Automatic discharge apparatus for book rounding machines and the like



Feb. 23, 1954 A. cRAwLEY ErAL 2,670,090

AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR BOOK ROUNDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. l5, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 23, 1954 A. CRA LEY ET AL AUTOMATIC DISCH GE APPARATUS FOR BOOK ROUNDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1950 INVENTOR. my, ef. By 7.3M I; jmd 3% ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 23, 1954 A. cRAwLl-:Y ET Al. 2,670,090

' AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR BOOK ROUNDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. l5, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Feb.

Filed Aug. l5, 1950 23, 1954 cRAwLEY ETAL A. AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR BOOK ROUNDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb 23, 1954 .1 cRAwLEY ET AL 2,670,090

AUTOMATIC pIscHARGE APPARATUS FOR Boox RoUNnING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 1.5, 1950 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1954 RAWLEY ET AL 2,670,090

A. AUTOMATIC DCHARGE APPARATUS FOR BOOK ROUNDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 15, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 n 2 INVENTOR. 9 l GEW, L? BY www3@ .8

Iii/ 97, 1I wok() 60mg/ #014011 www ATToRNEvs.

Feb. 23y 1954 A. cRAwLEY ETAI.-

AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE APPARATUS FCR BooK ROUNDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Aug. 15, 1950 IN VEN TOR. @M7

ATTOIZN EYS.

with the book rmly clamped during the retracting movement of the arm and during its advancement to an elevated position above the conveyor. The fingers then move downwardly between conveyor rollers which are spaced to receive them, then the spring limb releases its hold upon the book and permits it to be deposited upon the rollers for discharge by gravity. The articulated arm sections are then pivoted by their cams to move the lingers from the conveyor through substantially rthesamegsequenceof-motions in reverse ordertto bring 1the fingers 'back to their original position beneath the support rails to receive the next book.

Further objects of the invention have been t provide a mechanism which can be installed upon mounted in common upon a maincam shaft and properly correlated with one another to move the parts in timed sequence with one another. The cam shaft is driven continuously. from a source of power so that-the machine performs successive cycles of operation automatically.

"The articulated arm consists of three sections 'pivoted to one another, each section being individually actuated relative to the other sections by a respective cam whichis connected to its arm. Thev cams are mounted in common upon a shaft which is driven in unison with the main cam shaft of the machine. .In its preferred formthe cam shaft and arm assembly is mounted upon a base plate which isadjustably ixed to the base of the rounding machine `and the arm cam shaft is driven in unison with the cam shaft of the machine by a chain and sprocket drive.

The main section of the articulated arm has its lower end pivotally mounted upon the base plateand occupies a substantially horizontal position overhanging the machine, and the Apickup ngers are mounted upon' the swinging end of the secondary arm. Thev combined swinging movements'of the arm sections and fingers are of course related to one another and to the operating cycles'of the machine so as to engage and discharge the finished books in time with the'operating cycles of the machine.`

` Further features and advantages of the invention will be more fully disclosed in the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawings:

Figure l'is a general side elevation of a book rounding machine with the automatic discharge apparatus shown in the position it assumes at the start of a discharge operation, the sweep bar being shown in position forwardly of the pickup fingers to receive and clamp thenext book as it is fed inwardly by the feed rollers'.

Figure 2 is a general fragmentary vside elevation similar to Figure 1, showing thedischarge.

Y to the 'rounding'tooL Vrounding machines either as van integral part of a Figure 3 is a rear view of the rounding machine showing the general arrangement of the discharge apparatus, actuating cams and the conveyor section with which it cooperates.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the conveyor` system shown in Figure 3 as viewed from the front of the rounding machine.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 Figure 4 detailing the book receiving portion of the conveyor system, the pickup fingers being shown .inI book depositing; positionbetween the .D .n V 5 2 Figure 6 is a developed view of the primary or vertical arm section, together with the actuating linksand cams for operating the several sections.

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken on line 1 1 Figure 6` urther'detailing the primary arm and its associated parts.

' Figure 8l is a'developed view of the secondary armY and pickup fingers as a continuation of Figure 6, the :pickup ngers being shown in cooperating position with respect to the conveyor section.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 Figure 8, further illustrating the secondary arm and pickup fingers.

Figure l0 is anV enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from4 Figure l, detailing the arrangement of the support rails and the springs thereon for sustaining the nished book, the pickupiingers being shown in the position they. assume at the startV of a discharge operation.

Figure l1 is a fragmentary plan view projected from Figure 10 furtherfillustratng the relationship of the pickup ngers, support rails and springs.

Figure l2 is a view similar to Figure' 11 illustrating the book positioning 'springs which are utilized to support books in which the rounding beads are omitted; the spring being arranged to abut the forward or unbound edge of the book instead of the bead. y

Figures 13 to 16 inclusively are diagrammatic views illustrating the various positions of the articulated arm and cams with respect to the rounding machine during a cycle of operation.

Rounding machine structwe.4

Since the discharge mechanism functions in cooperation withthe rounding machine,y a description of its essential operations and parts is necessary to complete the disclosure. The structural details of the rounding machine itself,are not relevant to the invention' and haveV been omitted from the, brief description following; however, it will be understood that the machine follows generally the teachings of the above noted patent to which attention is invited. Y

As shown in Figure Ifthe rounding machine' includes a base -i `havingwal work supporting tray Ii at its forward end forsupporting the books as they are fed manually into the machine by the operator. At the rearward edge of tray H there is mounted a pair ofrollers l2-I2 arranged to grip the books and by rotation of the rollers, to feed them rearwardly` to a position .to be clamped betweenthe open jaws vof a swinging sweep'or clamp assembly-I3. The upper feed roller is movable vertically with respect to the lower roller to permit the book to be slipped between them at the beginning of each cycle. The `initial position of the book is regulated by a guide mem er (notfshown). which islocated behind the rollers and arranged to 'engage therear'ward edge of the bookand serve eiaseiavstop asitheroperatorfpushes.:it:betweenizhe cseparated'zrollers. .The guide :member `-rises ,to :a .l'positionaaboveathe path of 1 thefswecp't lf3iwhenzthe rounding: 'cycle'begins sogas 1;to. permit the sweep ltofcccupyapproximatelythe .positionbehind the rollers k.previously-rzoccupiedz by thefguide member.

The books to be rounded andubackedzarezpar- .etiall/y-s boundgzztheir rearwardsedge'ihaving previfou'slyibeenr stitched and g1ued..with1the leaffsecutionsaof theibockfstacked and .trimmed," thusadefining a straight bound edge. ."It .is :the .func- 4tion'of the rounding machine n tc deform the rbound edge'ltoza convex arci-and to formiat the 1edges ofithe roundedzziedgeA a .bead orwbacking eshoulderfxto .faccommodate the iside.: covers."` and backing covers .which'stare applied :in sanxop'era- .ti'on followingathe-rounding step.

vkIAt thea-start'ofetheirounding an'dbacking operatiom :thear upper :feed :roller descendsupon- -the ibook-:and 5 grips itzrunderiapressure :betweenthe -rllers; rthenrthe guide. member .'ascends .andzthe feed aollersearesrotated inea .direction toifeed .fltheibook rearwardly. .The .combined ipressure .rand rolling -.acti-on of `fthe .rollersrcauses .the "leaf -fsectionsi to creep :with arespectmo one r another in 'ii 'such-.manner that the bound i edge becomes. con- ..=.veX.:.-and.zthe forwardedgel concave.

Asl-'.showncinEi-gure 1:.the vsweep 1| 3r:atr;this time swings into position immediatelyrbehind'the feed rollers-.with itsupperrjaw 'M raised .to'receive f; and I.clamp ,thea rounded .bo'okv Vas it emerges :from .fthe feed .rollers When A the-.book .reaches a pre- :i determined .postionebetween the jaws, the upper -jaw mcveszadownwar'dly to .clampzthe booktunder lfpressure engagement, zthenfrthe ysweep carrying .'nthef'fbook': between -Litstjaws, swings rearwardly (Eigure V2) .toxpresent.thelrearward edge-.of the ubookito theroun'ding :bar fl 5 ywhere :the-rounding and .backing z'operation :is completed l Sweep` 'I 3 :in athis position :remains 'I stationary and "the rounding bar swings repeatedly .through an `are twithfzits. concave 'workingfface vengaged against rthet rounding. ".Ihe .working facedescribes a 'sr-aidius corresponding- :to `the book rounding `and .by wirtueof `.theipressure imposedupon .the book by the sweep jaws; .thexrounding isp-deformed :fslightlyaso ras'to develop the` bead orrback "shoul- .derl lx1 '(Eigurel0) alongtthefoppositeedgesrof `the rounding.

. i'After .the rounding bar performs Sits .operation the sweep -|f3 begins to swingiback to. the starting positions-and .during itsr'return .movement fits fclampffjawlfl moves upwardlyxto :release lthe -`:finished beok=and :deposit it upon'r the-.spaced supportt bars i S- I-.iiv which; vare `provided Hwith positioning springs hereinafter described. The rnishedbooknow remains upon the support bars .;for...discharge ,from the machine yandifinathe manually .operatedmachines it wasnecessaryfat 'this ,point `for .the -cperator to :reach `over. .the sweep and rollers to .retrieve the nished .book *before the sweep again'begins its rearward swing 'for vthe `next y'operation 'The present .discharge apparatusisarrangedto retrieve the'book auto- `matically'at this'point bypperation in time with the movements fof the sweep 'so' as to perform substantially ithefsame operationv 'formerly re- :quired: of: the-operator, thus speeding i up production and eliminating thefdanger o'finjuryto the roperator :or jamming :'of lthe :machine `by failure .toeremoveithe book :in time with the cy'clesno'f the continuously running machine.

...Thamovements ofi-.the'feed-ro1lers;;guide member, sweep. .rounding .-bar, zand. other -component f, parts .of .themachinefarerdeveloped-..by camssand f6 x?linkagesx'asiilisclosedi.ainfzthexsprior naatent. rtflflae cams are mounted in commonzuponiascamfshat 15.1:8 :which y'.*drivenifby 3a motorzthrough suitable '.freductionigearing. Aeclutch .-i-sfinterposedrinthe ,1 drive systennto :permitzthez machinettobeistopped vimmediately vinf.emergency.

.. :Discharge a1.jrpamtus tutesfan articulated farm indicated generally'fat "Zm'arranged to y'execute continuously afseries'of 'compoundi'movements 'in cycles "timed to the operating cycles of thev rounding machine. i The 'arm`f'2'0: yconstitutes a -primaryarm section" 2| 4'having f its lower-"end "pivoted upon aj 'pivot shaft 22' mounted-with #respect-to r'thev base i'ofithe "machine 4n'ear the floor.

swinging end Aofv arm"2| there isipivoted as'at""23 "a secondary arm 2 twhich Acarries upon itsswin'gfing-emita series of pickup 'fingers '225;which1are p'ivotallyA connected *to the.` secondary arm :as "at 26. v"The respective `arms and pickup" lingers are independently angulatedwith respect `to one -another by cams, there being provided-a cam" '21a 'forithe primary arm; a cam 24aiforthe'second- 'ary'arm"'and' a camu 25a for'the vpickup fingers. "These -respective 'cams `aresecured i upon a ,cam "shaft 21'journa1ledin bearing'blocks attheilower portion o'f the machine base. VTh'ecam vsh'a'ftis driven by a sprocket" 28 `rconnectedto Va driving sprocket 29 bya sprocket/chain 30. V`"Sprocket 29 'is *keyed vto the rmain: cam .shaft l 8 'of .fthe rounding machine and'both `sprockets are 'ofthe Hsame -pitch `diameter rtddrive camshaft v21 ,in iunison with shaft'l sand thus operatethe articulated arm in "synchronism vwith the .Operating parts of the machine.

.:Operatiofn The .operating cycle f of y,the discharge appara- .tusis .best disclosedl in Figures `1 and 2 ,andinfthe diagrams `illustrated l.inigures 13;to 16 .inclusive .whichshowithe various positionsof thearms'iin .conjunction .with the :movements of the @round- .ing ,machineparts In Figure 1, ashowing the beginning of an operating cycle, the sweep: faszsembl-y I3 iS-.inits Aforward-position.adjacent to the feed rolls 2 withfthe 4:jaws openvrand-Withxa nished bookmesting .upon 1 the .support rails. .At V.thispoint .the primary-arm isin. its .iforwardilimit of .travel and the .secondary armiszlowereduto the .limit cf .its stroke,.-. with A'the lingers poised below xthe support rails nin yposition-,to lift .the .nished book from the rails. It will beinotedrin Figures. `10and 11 that there.4 is provided agpair .ofiiat'leaf springs `3I.+3I, one for -.each.support rail, whichfare conguratedto supporttheffbook in an angular position with respect to therails. Mounted upon the-:endsofnthe secondary arm in a position to overhang the fingers is..a `clamp spring =32 which' holds the fboolrA in vposition ,upon the "fingers during vtransfer from "the rails. "In xthe finitial positionshown in Figures'flv and 1'()l -`theiingers and 'clamp spring Vfrom anopen"- throat "straddling thebook.

Before the sweep l 3 bgins itsfrearward ,swing withthe next' book, thelpickup fingersswing .upwardlyL toward lthe clampspring .32,.1iftingthe .-book from. thev support springs. 4Should thebook slide .rearwardlydown .the inclined lingers,Y ,it `will be --brought lto' .1r-est. against vthe stop lugs .V33 mounted upon the :rearwardl portion'. of the Fdin- @gers .Asnthe rngersrcmove; upwardlyu the upper fsuraceoftthe hookiisrengageuffagainsttherclamp *1n general; "the i"discharge apparatus *constispring .to prevent dislodgementoflthe book as it ."is movedto the conveyor. Y f

. With the lingers at their upper swing limit as determined by cam 25a, the sweep which has now engaged the next book, begins its rearward swing and at the same time the primary arm also begins its rearward motion by operation of cam Zia to retract the iin'gers and book ahead of the moving sweep. The rounding machinenowconj.tinues its second c ycle of operation and con- Ycurrently` the primaryA arm `continues `its yrear- ;Ward swing vuntil it reaches its rearwardlimit :Figure 15.

.At 'this point cara :mi begins to Wingene primary'armorwardly and the` secondary arm :begins its upward swing with the ngers. staf'tionary in clamping engagement with the book. .fAsthe ngers approach the conveyor, the secondary arm Vreaches its upper travel limit, and .itheiingers beginto swing upwardly and come 'itolrest with'the book poised above a conveyor 34 j'a's shown inY Figurel. At this point both arm ,sections remain stationary while theipickup n- -gers .swing downwardly between `the rollers fof ,the lconveyor section to deposit the book onthe rollers for delivery from the machine. .It.will `,be noted .that the clamp spring 32 remains `stationaryf as the ngers swingdownwardly so-as to `release, the book andpermit it to move by gravitydown the conveyor section. l

The .primaryarm now, begins its rearward swing, withdrawing the fingers from the conveyor and upon4 reaching its rearward limit. the-.secpndaryv arm is lowered and the primary arm 'again swings forwardlyto reposition theiingersl beneath thesupport rails asthe sweep begins A:it'sreturn movement with the next finished book in its jaws. The return movements of the articulated arm sections and fingers are approximately the same as those executed during the transfer of the book to the conveyor except the move- 'ments' are in reverse order. As the rounding lmachine sweep passes the support springs 3l, the upper sweep jaw is again raised to deposit the book upon the springs and the jaws remain open to receive the next book as it issues from the rollers.

' The operating speed of the machine in the past has been limited to the production of approximately ten books per minute and with the auto- Vmatic discharge mechanism the same machine can be run at a production rate of twenty or 'more books per minute with reliable performance. Greater operating speeds can be reached '-bymaking certain alterations in the rounding.

'machine structure since the discharge apparatus is found to operate efficiently at a speed greater than the normal top speed of the rounding malchine.

. Arm structure Described in greater detail, the pivot shaft 22 for the primary arm 2l is journalled upon a pair of bearingblocks 35-35 (Figure 6), carried upon `,a plate 3,6 which is secured to the rear wall of the machine base". Plate 3B may be adjusted with respect to the base by means of the adjustment screws 31 so as to regulate the position of "the articulated arm assembly accurately with refSpect to the machine parts with which it cooperates (Figure 3). In order to provide arigid but lightweight structure, the arm sections preferably are formed of aluminum castings. As shown inFigures 3 and 6, the primary arm 2l consists of a box section having spacedside Ilanges 40--40, stiffened by cross bracing 4l.' A

strut;42 extends crosswise .between the sideplates at lthe lowerr portion Tof` the armto'ma'intamthe "spaced 'relationship' of the side members. In order to further decrease the weight of the unit,

the base panel 43is skeletonized by forming open- .ings 44 in areas which are not critical to the strength of the arm.

At the swinging end of the primaryV armi a vpair of collars 45-45 are formed on the side flanges to journal the pivot shaft 23 of the secondary arm. As shown in Figure 9, the secondary arm 24 is likewise provided with collars 46- 4B formed on its side ilanges 47--41 to receive -Athe pivot shaft. The secondary arm is fabricated in substantially the same manner .as the primary arm and as detailed in Figure 8 it likewise includes a base. panel 4.8, a pairof cross members 50-50, and a pair of transverse struts .5l- 5l extending' between thevanges forv stiflness. l Upon the swinging er1-d of the secondary arm there is formed apair of bearing blocks 52 `521for journalling the counterturned ends 53 of `the pivot shaft 2E' which carries the lingers A25.

'The 'pickup lingers 25 are spaced apart "and 'adapted to reside between the rollers`55 of the gravity conveyor section 34, The outerend of each ringer includes an upwardly bent ear 56, and the rearward ends are secured to shaft 26 preferably by welding.

'In order to provide lateral' stability for the articulated arm, the primary and secondaryarm sections are of substantial width. Thus the pivot points of the arms are widely spaced and slight -looseness in the pivots will not cause any substantial lateral displacement at the free endv of jthe arm. This arrangement permits the arm to be positioned accurately with respect to thev support rails and aligns the pickup fingers' precisely with respect to the conveyor slots, thereby avoiding interferencel as the fingers enter them upon depositing the book upon the conveyor.

. The conveyor 34 as best shown in Figures' and 5 consists of a base plate 51 supported upon the machine frame by brackets 58 and having spaced side flanges SCi-60 upon which the Vrollers 55 are journalled. As shown in Figure# the base plate is horizontal and the upperdg'es of the side nanges are inclined in order to provide the necessary gravity feed. The upper pdrtion of the side flanges is provided with a'series of slots 6i corresponding to the lingers to permit the iingers to pass between the rollers asV the book is deposited upon them. The discharge conveyor section 62 is substantially of the same constructionv as section 34 and is disposedat right yangles tothe rst section such that the finished book drops from the lower end of conveyor'34 -Aand rolls forwardly down the inclined conveyor t2. Conveyor Slis mounted upon the machine frame by brackets 63 associated with those for mounting the conveyor 434 and includesY a table 64 atits lower e'ndfto receive the discharged books :mY ease the machine is installed in" a production line, the table is omitted and the conveyor arranged to discharge upon a lineV conveyor running to the various machines.

.The cams Zia, 24a and25a which actuate the respective arm sections 2l, 24 and 25 are connected by rollers to the arm sections whichv they operate. As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the primary arm section 2 I' is 'connected to the ovaltrack 65 of cam 2|'a by a roller 66 rotatably mounted upon'one of the side flanges4l] of theA arm. 'RQ'- vtationof thecai in the direction indicated will swing: thertracked .roller and arm;- through= two throws. upon: each; vrevolutiontfof the.- cam..

'I'hefsecondaryzarm 21h-'issactuatedffbynits cam 24u byfmeansnoilltherlink; 61 ,xhaving` a@ forkt` tnmiedfatiitsa lower endi straddlin'gfthecamshaft 2?! andi havingirotatablyimounted-.upon itslower ends; arcani' roller-'lvgengaged against the-periph. ery.- o camw24af ('Figurel.. Theupper-'end ofy link: Sil-".is'connected tota lug; H extending from the:near.-,warrl'rendofuarm-24hl LugTl extendsbe-, youd the: pivotv centerf;23 sothat the vlinieV 6l is underf tensionagainst. thei overhanging weight loadrf of arm; 24 andi thereby.l constantlyurging roller-:510 upwardly against: thecam. Int. addi ti'onrtherepis. providedea spring-l3finterposed1in tensionf. between. the primary,y andvsecondary :arms toixmaintain; tensioni upon the link` ata allt times. Therlink.- flnearfits .i upper-enuvincludes a2 `turnbnckledil tof provideV a; length adjustmentfto' regulate with". precision the; angular position of armgM.,y The/turnbuckleis;.lockedirr adjusted.-

position a.nut 15;: threadedvupon the'screw.

shaftrile.

The` movements* generated by= theycam; 25a are? transmitted tot thefpickupfngers 25 by a: link .'1'1. having'iitselower end forkedA asiV at 1 8.- straddling thegcamrshaft; 2-'lf with .a follower roller 19 lgen-` gaged-gagainst theiperiphery of.- cam 25a (Figure "l: Theslinkg'lflfgismiased by -a rtensionfspring 80 sofarrangedrthat the linkii'l'lfandfroller. 'le-,areV

constant s'engag'ementi; against the inside: circumferencepofi; cam 2511s.-y Cam 25av` preferablyl co,nsistsfoi-agl plate j havingf'the cam .configuration l'nachined., in git, .the fplatebeing securedby' screws direct-ly: agansti th1e;rear surface; of cam 2-l a.

Ther movements developedby;` cami 25a are transmitted -;through.link11to a; quadrant lever 8.! pivoted flooselyfupon the: shaftw23 landgheld in lateral :position bye ai collar. 82 l fixed gto the shaft- The upper en-d of link 'l1 is pivotally'rconnected,

asiat-1813 .ator-thefswinging; end at,l one-side of the quadrantlever and;` a'. branch. link 84'? which is, angularly) relatedto -link-.1'l has its endiconnected as atv 8 V5l =to,-.thequadrant lever at the; other side of itsgswinging end.; Branch n links 844 extends, forwardly;.and isvfpivotally connectedrasat 86 to.

andacimating-v lever Blf are forked; with;l the; ends;l oftheflinks residing.between the forks.` The link. l1-,is sprovided with; at turnbuckle vsirnilar:r to, turnbuckleM- tofpermitthe positionzofi thefpickupgngersto be adjusted to. suit .the .requirements f ofithe;machinesv Itwil-l be observedthat the` quadrant i lever' 8| will transmit: the vmovements of.link- 'H,to the/angular branch link, 84- independently'lofv. the :movement or position A. of? theprimaryffand; secondary arms sa thatthe pickup l ngersujd are;fr ee -to moverelative tdfthe;v arm-i As lshowngin VFigures g 10 and f1 1 the booksup`.- p ort rails. I iii-.have 1- their-*forward ends..pivotally, connected asatQS tothe framej-of themachine'. and.v the sweep is Vprovided 1 with openings v which slidea-bly .supportz the vrailsrleavng their inner.y f

ends4 free to;y swing@v in; response@ to.v the arcuate movements: orl the sweep; In cross asection the support rails Y arefgohannel-.shaped to receiveV the: flat. leaf..sprirrgs 3l which varelncninted upon their upnersurace., Asshown inEisure .=10..each spring= proper,-5 is'f curved? upwardlyy` as indicated; at. `92 and .itsgrearwardend .-isfsecured byscrew: as ..93.' to the; free..,end.of-the,support rail. The.v

rearward; end, or` each, spring, inclunicaen...l anguf o therebyf-tojvarylthe spacing-between the spring;A

10 railfin a :positionvtoengage i the shoulder,orV bead Hwfof fthe-bool: as the fbookv is :releasedfrom the Sweep:4

When the book; 'isv clamped- 'in the sweep and swung'frearwardlywtoward the rounding. tool.- the curvedfaportion and spur vdeflect downwardlyto permit--the-book toPpass-.over them'-` Duringthe forward movement ofthe'.v sweep, the clamping pressure isrelaxed .--befor-e; the; beadfisi-engaged by the spurs l thusy `the spurs are in` position' to wedgey againstY the bead andrestrain the bool; while the sweepcontinues Aits forwards-,movement After gbeinggstopped by .-thefspursy4 the bookfsup: ported in an inclined position upon curved portion of theqspri-ngs with;l its edge.- preciselyf aligned vlwith respectto. thef pickupfvfingers;

Thepresent machine is designed also tof nish books ofV a? certainnclass in which; the; rearward edge.r is 1 roundedy only, with the-backing shoulders |1- omitted. Inorder-.to positionisuch books with respecttethe-fingers; the; support rails are provided.v -wththe, modified leaf springs shown in Figlinev 12, which are. arranged to y engage thefforwarrior- 4unboundj edge ofthe book` in the `manner discloseds Thisy positioning` spring,` anchored as at95. by meansvof.. a'fscrew threaded into one end ofthe..springfisbentto provide; an abutment or step 96- Which is presented-*tothe .unboundedge ofutlie'bool:` duri-ngits4 return,motion,Y to indexA itprecisely inv pickuppositionwthrespect tothe fingers.v The. modified. spring includes aY curvedportion 91 extending: forwardly similar tothe curved portionof .thebead engaging;Y spring.- The curved. portion presents.; afyieldable support surfacete prevent interferenceduring..rearwardffeed; and to-provide a-fpositivastop during-.the forward feed.I in the same mannery as the. above described struoture.

Theclampspring 2.,..whichcooperates with the pieluipI lingers,Av is, mount-ed -in--f1Xed-r positionuponf the -forward end ofgthef secondarie arn'lf-.ll 4,upon v` a' l'ug.9 8 ywhich -.is l secured lrigidly,.- upon the end fof# the. secondary., arm .t (Figures 8f and@ 9). The spring.; 32 haspitsrearward endg; rigidly mountedt upon-an angle bracket Illllafwhiohv extends-jor: wardlybf... lug-I- w98 and which .includes a foot.;v HHi whichvlisclamped..tofthe-,lug by means of afsorew- I (Iz. passing ...thro-ughT a. .ver-tical slotv I 03. formed: -iirA the luga. The. forward. face: or. the lug isa m-a-1 chinedto form-achannehlMtofreceivefthe foot- 102. 'Ilhe inner lend of;;screw.l Mais 'providedfwit-h? al Wingnuty I `D5 to permitJ the bracket to be g adj-'1 justed.l vertically. with; respect tof the lugqf and.

and iingers.r so als;v to accommodate,=.books of i-var-f. ious.. thicknesses.. 'Bhe-free;l end'v of the` clamp` springis-curveddipvvardlyn as at: 06so as Ato proa. vide ysmooth--surface forV engagementt uponthe-: book... As.V thev lngerer-swing toward-.the .springF with. the-:roundedV edge I of. the-fbook-yv engagedV againstfthe stoplugs .33,.,the free end ofA-thefhold-fv a yieldablebut constantpressurelupon- .the` booke; Thusfminor variations in the .thickness of the-f books willbeaccominodated automatically bythe spring.

pla te3-B. Since. adjustment of.` the base. plate will.` displace' the spro'ckiself` 2'8 relative tosprocket f .29', av slack.. takeup. device" is provided for'v the..

sprocket chain 3U. As shown in Figures l and 3, the takeup device constitutes an idler sprocket I8 loosely mounted upon a swinging arm I 09 cariied yby a bracket I I secured upon the'upper edge of base plate 36.` The arm is fixed upon a shaft III journalled in lugs II2-II2 extending from the bracket. The opposite end of shaft Il I includes a lever II3 having its lower rend fixed to the shaft and having an adjustment screw II4 threaded through its upper end; The end of screw I I4 bears against a lug I I0 rising from the base plate 36 so that rotation of screw I I4 swings the arm and sprocket in an arc and thus controls the slack in chain 30.

Having described our invention, we claim:

l. In an automatic discharge apparatus for a bok finishing machine or the like, an articulated arm'cnstituting a substantially vertical arm. a substantially horizontal arm pivotally mounted upon the vertical arm, a plurality of pickup fingers pivetally mounted upon the free end of the horizontal arm', individual cam means connected to^ the` 'respective arns and'fpickup lfingers for pivotallyswinging the same with' respect to one anothenduing the operating cycle of the finishiri'r'n'achine, 'a limb Vsecured upon the free end of the horizontal arm and overhanging the pickuprng'ersfthe said Ylimb being formed of flexible Material and 'adapted to engage a book disposed upon'thesai'd fingers when the fingers are swung upwardly toward thelimb and being adapted to disengage the book when the said ngers swing downwardly to a book discharge position. "':ZTIn'adischar'ge apparatus for a'book roundin'g "chine, book lsupport means, a vertical arm, abearing 'pivotally mountingthe lower end of tlievertical arm, a cam shaft, a cam mounted onthel cam shaft adjacent the lower end of the vertical'arm, acarn follower mounted in the lower portion of'th vertical arrn and in camming with the cam', said cam being adapted to oscillate the yei'tigalarm upon rotation of the cam, a horiz bntal arm v having a bearing at its rearward end pi'vQtlly'- connecting therearward end to the upperend'of theyertical arm, the horizontal arm having'al lever extending'rearwardly beyond said bearing; a second cam mounted upon said cam shaft, 'a'cam follower in camming engagement withr th'e'second cam; a link extending upwardly freni thejcam follower, the upper end of said link'fbeingconnected to the levere'xtension of the'fhorizontal arm adapted to oscillate the second arm upon rotation of the Ysecond cam, spaced pickup fingers p ivotally mounted upon the free erd of fthe horizontalarm, a third cam mounted onsaidcam shaft, a follower in camming engagement withv the third cam,Y anarticulated linkage hating-amend connected to said follower, the opposite'iiend'uof 4tl'ri'articulated` linkage extending totliefpickup' fingers andfadaptedl to oscillate said ligersfwithf respectto.,` the horizontal arm upon rotation of thethird'camfand means for rotating saidi/amfshaft and cams 'in unison, said cams having cammingsurfaces arranged during rotation of "the ,cams 'to advance and retract the verticalarm vand to raise and lower the horizontal arm andpickup fingers in` timed relationship with one another whereby the pickup lingers are advancedand retracted in a combined horizo `1andiv/erticvzal'path of movement to engage "ithdraw `aI book from thev book support m affis- A l 1,1? e' discharge app'aratusgfor. a bgokrounding inatxhirie, booksupport meansj'a vertical arm, abearingpivotaHy mounting the, lqwei end of the vertical'arm, a cam shaft, a cam mounted 'on the cam shaft adjacent the lower end of the vertical arm, a cam follower mounted in the lower portion of the vertical arm and in camming engagement with the cam, said cam being adapted to oscillate the vertical arm upon rotation of the cam, a horizontal arm having a bearing at its rearward end pivotally connecting the rearward end to the upper end of the vertical arm, the horizontal arm having a lever extending rearwardly beyond said bearing, a second cam mounted upon said cam shaft, a cam follower in camming engagement with the second cam, a link extending upwardly from the cam follower, the upper end of said link being connected to' the lever extension' of the horizontal arm adapted to oscillate the second arm upon rotation ofthe second cam, spaced pickup fingers mounted upon the free end of the horizontal arm, a third cam mounted on said cam shaft, a cam follower in camming engagement with the third cam, a quadrant lever pivotally mounted upon the bearing which pivotally lconnects the rearward endioff the horizontal arm to the vertical arm, a link extendingupwardly from the cam follower of the third cam to said quadrant lever, a second link extending horizontally from the quadrant lever to the pickup fingers adapted to oscillatel said fingers with respect to the horizontal arm upon rotation of the third cam, and means forv rotating said cam shaft and rotating said cams in unison, said cams having camming surfaces adapted during rotation of the cams to advance and retract the vertical arm and to raise and lower the horizontal arm and pickup fingers in' timed relationship withone another whereby the pickup fingers are advanced and retracted ina combined horizontal and vertical path of movement to engage and withdraw a book from the support means. v

4`. In a discharge apparatus for a book rounding machine adapted to transfer books from a book support member to a discharge conveyor, a vertical arm, a bearing pivotally mounting the lower end of the vertical arm, a cam shaft, a. cam mounted on the cam shaft adjacent the lower end of the vertical arm, a cam follower" mounted in the lower portion of the vertical arm andr in camming engagement with the cani, saidV cam being adapted to oscillate the vertical arm upon rotation of the cam, a horizontal arm having a bearing at its rearward end pivotally connecting the rearward end of the horizontal arm to the upper end of the vertical arm, the horizontal arm having a lever extending rearwardly' beyond said bearing, a second cam mounted' upon 'said cam shaft, a cam follower in"c'ainming engagement 'with the second cam, a; linkextending upwardlyfrom the cam follower, the upper end of said link being connectedto theN lever" extension of the horizontal arm adapted to oscillate the second'arm upon rotation of the second Noam, "spaced pickup lingers pivotally mounted upon the free end of the horizontal arm, a third cam mounted on said cam shaft, a follower in camming engagement with the third cam, anarticulated linkage having an end connected to said follower. the opposite end of the articulated linkage extending to the pickup iingers and adapted to oscillate said fingers with respect to the horizontal arm upon rotation of the third cam, and means for rotating said cam shaft and cams in unison, said cams having camming surfaces arranged to retract the verti' cal arm from vthesuppOrt', member "and raise the' conveyor during a partial revolution of the cams,

the camming surfaces being arranged to advance the vertical arm and lower the horizontal arm and pickup ngers to a position beneath the support member during the remainder of the rotation of the cams whereby the pickup lingers are in position to withdraw the next book from the support member.

ARTHUR CRAWLEY.

JACK N. BINNS.

THOMAS E. DUGLE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Crawley Oct. 25, 1887 Granstedt Mar. 1, 1927 Westin Dec. 8, 1931 Canfield May 24, 1932 Joplin July 12, 1938 McNamara Dec. 17, 1940 Sahlin Mar. 10, 1942 Glassner Dec. 31, 1946 

